The Colour That Started It All: The First Aston Martin in Iconic Green Confirmed for Concours of Elegance 2026
The Concours of Elegance is pleased to announce that one of the most historically significant Aston Martins in existence will take its place on the lawns of Hampton Court Palace this September. This 1935 Aston Martin Mark II Sports Saloon carries a distinction unlike almost any other in the marque’s history: it was the first Aston Martin to wear the metallic green that would go on to become one of the most recognisable colours in British motoring.
The decision by designer Enrico Bertelli to finish this particular Mark II in that now- iconic shade was, in the mid-1930s, a considered and confident one. It signalled Aston Martin’s commitment to artistry alongside performance, a combination that would come to define the marque for generations. That colour, first seen on this car, became synonymous with Aston Martin in the decades that followed.
The Mark II itself was built in very small numbers, with just 22 Sports Saloons completed, and fewer than a dozen surviving today in original form. Over the past five years, this example has undergone a thorough restoration, attended to with close regard for period correctness and craftsmanship. The results were recognised at Pebble Beach in 2025, where the car received the Montague of Beaulieu Trophy, awarded to the most remarkable British car on the field.
That appearance also marked something worth noting. The car had not been driven on British roads since its previous owner used it as everyday transport from the 1950s until 1972. Its arrival at Hampton Court Palace this September will be its first on home soil in more than fifty years.
Under the coachwork is a 1,500cc four-cylinder engine producing 100bhp, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. At 950kg, it is capable of 90mph – the kind of characterful progress that defines the best pre-war British sports cars.
Concours of Elegance 2026 takes place at Hampton Court Palace from 4-6 September. Further announcements will follow in the coming weeks.